22. Chapter Twenty-Two
Chapter twenty-two
F ox woke Melody before the crack of dawn the same way he’d put her to bed last night, by showing her how much he loved and wanted her. He couldn’t stop wanting her. He took his time, though they had a plane to catch. But he couldn’t help touching, tasting, kissing every inch of her. And when he was inside her…heaven. Every pant and moan and gasp let him know she was right there with him, burning in ecstasy. After the high, when they both settled into bliss, their arms around each other, he knew he was right where he wanted to be. Always.
The bright, open, honest smile she gave him when he stared down at her…it made his heart swell.
He loved her more than anything in this world. And he wanted to make her a part of his.
As they dressed, then headed for the airport, her sitting next to him in the car he’d ordered to take them to the private airstrip, Dean up front, he held her hand and thanked his lucky stars to have her by his side, taking this step toward their future.
He wanted her to love Boston. He wanted her to feel at home there. He wanted her to be happy in the life they’d make together.
Though they hadn’t talked about his wealth and what it meant in their lives again, he knew she had to be thinking about it. The money changed everything. He knew it. Melody had to, too. And yet, she hadn’t brought it up.
So he watched her as they pulled up to the hangar and she spotted the private jet waiting for them.
Her eyes went wide before she turned them on him. “This isn’t the airport I’m used to.”
“Me either,” he admitted. “But we only have a couple of days and I need to make the time count. This is the fastest way to get there and back without the hassle of being on some airline’s schedule and going through all the security and stuff.”
“Is this how you normally travel now?”
“Most of the time.” He gave her a sheepish grin.
Dean asked the driver to wait outside a moment, then turned in the front seat. “A lot has changed since Fox won the lottery. People know he’s rich. They assume because of the business. It’s a good cover. But it also puts a target on his back.”
“And yours and Max’s, too?”
Dean shook his head. “We’ve managed to stay under the radar. It’s hard for the CEO and founder of the company to do that. He’s too public now.”
Melody glanced at him, then back to Dean. “What are you trying to tell me?”
“You’re going to see people treat him a certain way when we get there. He’s going to be in corporate mogul mode. Just remember, you know who he really is at the core.”
Melody glanced at Fox, then Dean again, and shook her head. “You know, I’m really getting tired of being underestimated. I get that the money means you can have all the nice things, but it doesn’t buy the things that matter. True friends,” she said to Dean. Her blue gaze shifted to Fox. “Love.”
“Melody…”
“What? You think I don’t get it. You want me to love you because you’re you, not because you have a shit-ton of money. Done. I do love you. But the quickest way to ruin it is for you to keep thinking that I’m here for the money and not the amazing sex.” With that, she got out of the car, then turned back, a huge grin on her face.
Fox gaped at her, then everything inside him eased because of that smile and the woman who owned his heart. “So you’re just using me for my body.” He slid across the seat and followed her out. Who wouldn’t follow the sway of those hips and the woman who knew just how to make him want to beg?
“Those are some good memories, but I’m after a lot more. A lifetime more.” With that, she greeted the pilot with a “Hello” and disappeared into the plane.
Dean caught up to him. “Now, will you stop worrying?”
“Not until my ring is on her finger and she says, ‘I do.’”
“When is that happening?”
“Soon.” Fox shook the pilot’s hand at the bottom of the steps. “Everything ready?”
“As per your instructions.”
“Great. Let’s go.” Fox walked up the steps, ducked under the doorway, and found his beautiful girlfriend sitting in one of the front-row seats, her bag on the seat across the aisle. He sat next to her, put his hand on her knee, and squeezed. “Thank you.”
“For what?”
“Being you. And doing this…taking a chance on us and Boston and a new life.”
“I’m still nervous and unsure about what this life is going to look like, but I’m excited to be with you.”
Dean walked onto the plane and past them to take a seat at the back, giving him and Melody a little privacy.
The pilot came in after Dean and closed the door. “We’ll be leaving in a few minutes.”
Fox nodded and fastened his seat belt.
Melody already had hers on. “What’s the plan when we get there?”
“We’ll go to the apartment. I want to show you it first. Then we’ll head to the office. I’ll show you around there.” He winced. “I have some work I need to do.”
“No worries. I thought I’d scope out the city a bit. I’ll do a little walking tour around your company, see what’s there to see.”
“It’s a business district.”
“Yes. Probably with lots of restaurants and bars. Places I could work.”
“Is that what you really want to do? Because you could do anything, even something new, something you never thought to do but could now because money isn’t a factor.”
She raised a brow and studied him. “You mean that.”
“Yes. I’d rather spend it on making you happy than anything else.” And this was where he felt things could get complicated between them again.
She put her hand over his. “I am happy.”
“I know. I just want you to know, you have no limits now. So really think about it. What would you be happy doing if you had the money to do it?”
“I love doing what I’m doing already. But maybe it will be different in Boston and I’ll want a change. We’ll see.”
“Okay. Just…”
“What?”
“Don’t hesitate to ask me for what you want. If it means you’ll be happy in Boston, I’ll give it to you.”
“We’ll figure it out,” she assured him.
Dean walked up to them with three champagne glasses. “Peach Bellini.”
Melody took her glass, then eyed Fox. “How did you know this is my favorite brunch drink?”
“I may have asked your sisters a few questions last night while you were gushing over Layla’s new painting.”
“I’ll heat up the cinnamon rolls and spinach artichoke frittatas once we’re in the air.” With that, Dean went to his seat in the back.
Fox held out his glass. “To the most beautiful woman in the world and new adventures.”
Melody tapped her glass to his. “To making memories.”
Fox drank to that, because it’s everything he wanted. Now all he had to do was show her that life in Boston with him would be a good one. One filled with love and happy memories if Melody could find her place there and the thing that made her happy.